Building Smart Communities through Network Weaving

This article investigates building sustainable communities through improving their connectivity - internally and externally, using network ties, interpreted by network mapping - to create economic opportunities. As demonstrated here, knowing the network can begin with mapping and measuring the social and economic connections of a community. This can be followed by weaving connections among scattered groups until sustainable networks are formed and can link with other networks in a region and then between regions. "When local interactions lead to global patterns the event is called 'emergence'."

"Network maps provide a revealing snapshot of a business ecosystem at a particular point in time." Maps show nodes - people, groups, or organisations - and links - relationships, flows, or transactions. Links can be directional. Maps can show innovators, mentors, leaders, collaborative alliances, and connections and missed connections. "Influencing a small number of well-connected nodes often results in better outcomes than trying to access the top person or calling on random players in the policy network. If you know the network, you can focus your influence."

Five patterns that are observed in effective networks are the following:

1. Nodes link together because of common attributes, goals, or governance.
   
2. "Though clusters form around common attributes and goals, vibrant networks maintain connections to diverse nodes and clusters. A diversity of connections is required to maximize innovation in the network."
   
3. "Robust networks have several paths between any two nodes. If several nodes or links are damaged or removed, other pathways exist for uninterrupted information flow between the remaining nodes."
   
4. "Some nodes are more prominent than others" - referred to here as "hubs, brokers, or boundary spanners."
   
5. Most nodes in the network are connected by an indirect link in the network; thus, the average path length in the network tends to be short. "There are very few long paths in the network that lead to delay and distortion of information flow and knowledge exchange."

As described here, the community structure remains weak and underproducing unless it builds connection. A "community network is generally built in 4 phases, each with it’s own distinct topology", as follows:

1. Scattered Fragments
2. Single Hub-and-Spoke
   
3. Multi-Hub Small-World Network
   
4. Core/Periphery

Shown diagrammatically, the network weaver, who is an organiser of scattered groups, forms relationships with each of the small group clusters by becoming a hub for the connections. "An organization with a vision, and contacts to external ideas and resources, can play the role of the hub." This spoke-and-hub formation must then develop links among the clusters if a healthy network is to form. This may occur through "introduc[ing] clusters that have common goals/interests or complementary skills/experiences to each other....Training in network building is important at this juncture. Network mapping reveals the progress and identifies emerging network weavers. There are two parts to network weaving. One is relationship building, particularly across traditional divides, so that people have access to innovation and important information. The second is learning how to facilitate collaborations for mutual benefit....Bridging ties between clusters... [is] important in innovation. New ideas are often discovered outside the local domain....Information percolates most quickly through a network where the best connected nodes are all connected to each other."

As indicated here, political issues and competition may arise that inhibit network connection and information and relationship movement. The goal, however, is to strengthen the appropriate loose ties in the network so they become strong ties, resulting in a core/periphery network as stable structure that can link to other well-developed networks in other regions. "The periphery of this network contains three groups of nodes that are usually tied to the core through looser ties:

• Those new to the community and working to get to the core
  
• Bridges to diverse communities elsewhere
  
• Unique resources that operate outside of the community, and may span many communities.
  

Monitoring your network using social network analysis can help you see where your network needs to shift connections to match the current environment. Now, attention turns toward network maintenance and building bridges to other networks. The network weavers can begin to form inter-regional alliances to create new products, services and markets - or to shape and influence policy that will strengthen the community or region."

The document concludes that: "Starting with a disconnected community, network builders can start weaving together the necessary skills and resources to build simple single hub networks. This will be followed by a more robust multi-hub network, concluding with a resilient core/periphery structure - maximized for learning and implementation."